The Lord says “… we ought always to pray…” ~ Luke 18:1 The Lord urges us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.” ~ Matthew 7:7 We should pray always, seeking His will continuously until we enter His holy presence. The Word of God says the Holy Spirit wants to pray through us. “Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ~ Romans 8:26-27
Why is Prayer Important?
The Lord our God has promised to answer the prayers of his children when they pray.
“But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.” ~ Psalm 4:3
“If thou afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry.” ~ Exodus 22:23
“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” ~ Psalm 34:5
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” ~ Psalm 138:3
“He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” ~ Psalm 145:19
“And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” ~ Isaiah 65:24
Finding the Lord through the power of prayer is the key. You will have the answer to your prayers when you search for him with all your heart: “you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, says the LORD.” ~ Jeremiah 29:13-14
Praying the Scriptures: Prayers of Victory
Healing Scriptures…
“O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.” ~ Psalm 30:2
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
~ Psalm 34:19
“Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” ~ Psalm 103:3
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” ~ Isaiah 53:5
“He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” ~ Psalm 107:20
“Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.” Psalm 119:153
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” ~ Hebrews 13:8
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” ~ Psalm 147:3
Prayers for the Peace of God
Peace of God in the Scriptures…
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them of My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am in the midst of them.” ~ Matthew 18:18-20
“He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against with me.” ~ Psalm 55:18
“The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.” ~ Psalm 29:11
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” ~ Isaiah 26:3
Prayers for the Wisdom of God
Wisdom of God in the Scriptures…
The source of wisdom is God, who alone can give us wisdom to live righteously.
“The LORD’s voice cries to the city – wisdom shall see Your name: hear the rod! Who has appointed it?” ~ Micah 6:9
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given him.” ~ James 1:5
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” ~ James 3:17
Prayers for Families and Marriages
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicator and adulterers God will judge.” ~ Hebrews 13:4
“The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.” ~ Psalm 102:28
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. And, you fathers’, do not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” ~ Ephesians 6:1-4
“And man He said, behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” ~ Job 28:28
“… As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” ~ Joshua 24:15
Prayers for Divine Deliverance and Guidance
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ~ Matthew 18:18
“O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.” ~ Psalm 65:2
“Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!” ~ Psalm 66:20
“The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.” ~ Psalm 93:3
“But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (bread, water, clothing and shelter) will be added to you.” ~ Matthew 6:33
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” ~ Psalm 32:8
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”
~ Psalm 37:23-24
“Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.” ~ Psalm 107:6
“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” ~ Joel 2:32
“My God hath sent His angel, and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me.” ~ Daniel 6:22
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do to them, and not forsake them.” ~ Isaiah 42.16
“The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” ~ Psalm 25:9
Prayers for Forgiveness
“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” ~ Psalm 130:4
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” ~ Matthew 6:14
“Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” ~ Acts 5:31
Prayers of Repentance
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” ~ Acts 3-19
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” ~ Acts 17:30
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. …. Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” ~ Luke 13:3
Prayers of Spiritual Cleansing and Strength
“But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31
“… put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” ~Isaiah 1:16, 18
“Therefore, having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.” ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2
“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:21
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” ~ Ephesians 3:16
“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with My right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
The LORD Bless You
“The LORD bless you, and keep you:
The LORD make his face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ~ Numbers 6:24-26
All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Contributor for Moments of Meditation and Spiritual Readings; email: cburns@naavets.org